Dress shield



Jain. 9, 1940. s. BENDERSKY DRESS SHIELD Filed Oct. 17, 1936 INVENTOR v Sad/e Be'nderls/ fy BY AT TORNEYI Patented Jan. 9, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,186,002 mmss SHIELD Sadie Bendersky, South Orange, N. J. 7 Application October 17, 1936, Serial No. 106,154

I 3 Claims. (01. 2+53),

This is a continuation in part of my original application for patent on Dressshield and method of making the same, filed May 7, 1936, Serial No. 78,417.

My invention relates to shields for the protection of the under-arm portions of garments, such as dresses, blouses, and the like, from discoloration and deterioration due 'to contact with the perspiration of the wearer. More particularly, my invention relates to novelv and practical means for detachably securing such shields to the underarm portions of dresses in'a manner to render the presence of the shield unnoticeable from the outside of the dress while at the same timeensuring a maximum of comfort to the wearer Dress shields have presented a variety of problems which have made their use difficult and, though necessary, nevertheless discommodious. Thus, the very utilization ofdres's shields requires that they be frequently removed for washing and replacement. This has led to the common'practic'e'of locating, sewing, and ripping out, and relocating and resewing shields into place; and to various attempts to provide substitute means for detachably securing dress shields into place.

wearer whenever her body comes in contact with the metal. Also, considerable difficulty has been experienced in properly locating the dress shield in place each'time it is to be reattached to the ,dress.

Moreover, a desideraturn of dress shields is that their presence be inconspicuous, and unnoticeable on the outside of the dress.

:presence, by lending their stiffness to the pliant dress material to which they are so closely united. Furthermore. detachably secured dress shields having stiff fastening means directly on the dress,

at the very portion of the dress which requires thegreatest flexibility.

It is anobject of my invention, therefore, to provide a dress shield with means thereon for exibly securing the c.,a, iress.in, a. man- Or they have resulted Yet the dress shields sewed directly on the dress outline thereon their ner torender the presence'of the shield unnoticeable from the outside, regardless of the position of'the wearer thereof; and in a manner to permit a maximum of flexibility to the underarm portion of the dress itself. i 1

Another object of my invention is to provide means for 'detachably securing a dress shield to a dress in amanner to render the shield easily and readily'attachable, easily removable, and as easily reassemblable; saidmeans' to occupy a minimum of space, and to renderamaximum of comfort. J c

A further object of my invention is to provide means for easily locating and relocating dress shields into place." 'i

A further object of my invention is to provide a combinationof temporary shield, fastening means, and dress shield, whereby a temporary shield, for use in' retail dress shops, may be'detachably secured to a dress, and then discarded for a more permanent dress shield, 'secu'rable to the dress by the same fastening means; both shields bearing similar'characteristics of ease and simplicity in assembly, and comfort to the wearer, as Well as inconspicuo'usness to the observerl *With the above and other objects in view, my invention 'consistsof the combination of a dress,

a dress shield, and a flexible nexus; said flexible nexus being secured at one portion thereof to said dress," and another portion being in interlocked condition With said dress shield;- and means spaced from the portion of said dress secured to said'nexus, for releasably maintaining said interlocked condition.

My invention also consists of a dress shield comprising'afabric having interlocking means in proximity to the periphery thereof; an absorbentpaper dress shield of substantially the same size and configuration as said first-mentioned dress shield; and a flexible nexus having a plurality of coasting detachable-engaging means contiguous to both ends thereof and adapted alternately to interlock with said interlocking means on said fabric, and with said absorbent paper shield; the transverse median portion of said. nexus being adapted to be sewed to a dress.

My invention also consists of various combinations of the constituent characteristics of my invention, as will appear more fully hereinafter.

' For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I

have shownin the accompanying drawing forms thereof which are at present preferred by me,

since the same havebeen found-in practice-to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized andthat my invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and or- Referring now to the drawing, in which like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 represents a fragmentary perspective view of a dress shield assembly embodying my invention, whereby the flexible nexus and fastening means embodied in my invention are used for successively securing to a dress, a temporary absorbent-paper shield, and a permanent shield.

Figure 2 represents a front elevational View of a dress shield embodying my invention.

Figure 3 represents a front elevational view of a dress shield of modified construction embodying my invention.

Figure 4 represents a fragmentary view, in perspective, of the under-arm portion of a dress with the dress shield of another modified construction, embodying my invention, assembled therewith.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a dress shield l0 adapted to be inserted within the arm scye of a dress l2; said dress comprising a waist I 3 and a sleeve l4; and said dress shield comprising a waist portion |5 adapted to be inserted between the waist l3 of the dress l2 and the body of the wearer, and a sleeve portion H5 adapted to be inserted between the sleeve I4 and the arm of the wearer. For the purposes of illustration, I have shown in the drawing a seam l1, joining the sleeve l4 with the waist l3, at the arm scye H; and also a side and sleeve seam I8 extending downwardly from the arm scye towards the waist, and also towards the cuff.

Along the median axes of the waist portion l5 and the sleeve portion l6, and also in proximity to the 'fold l9 forming the juncture of said waist and sleeve portions l5 and I6, I provide eyelets 2|, in proximity to the periphery 22 of the shield I!) and extending through sa d shield.

Flexible nexus, such as flexible tabs 23, or the like, are provided, each having secured to one end thereof a female snap fastening member 24,

" and to the other end thereof a male snap fastening member said male snap fastening member 25 having a spear-post 26 extending therefrom. This spear-post 26 may be of the conventional ball-headed type, but must be of a height sufficient to pass the ball or spearhead thereof through the eyelet 2|. The transverse median portion 2! of the flexible nexus or tab 23 is means of the male spear-posts 26 thereon, passjuxtaposition to the seams I! and N3 of the arm scye, waist and sleeve portions, respectively; and the transverse median portions 21 of the flexible nexus 23 sewed thereto.

the male snap fasteners 25 from the female snap fasteners 24 and passing the spear-posts 26 out of the eyelets 2|; and the dress shield is removed from the dress.

A temporary shield 28 is then inserted within the arm scye II in the same relative position as The dress shield I0 is then detached from the nexus 23 by disengaging that formerly held by the dress shield III. This places the periphery 29 of the shield 28 in proximity to the transverse'median portion of each of the nexus 23, with the female socket members 24 on one side of the shield 28 and the male spearpost members 26, facing them, through the other. The male spear-posts 26 are then urged through the absorbent paper temporary shield 28 and snapped into engagement with the female socket members 24. This secures the temporary shield in place.

The temporary shield may be used on the dress for the purpose of protecting it from becoming shopworn or deteriorated due to contact with the perspiration of prospective purchasers who try on the dress; and tends to keep it fresh until ultimately purchased. Moreover, it may be used as a temporary substitute for the more permanent dress shield while the latter is being washed and dried; or a series of temporary shields may be preferred by a customer to one permanent shield.

When it is desired to discard the temporary shield 28 and substitute in place thereof a permanent dress shield l0, it is merely necessary to disengage the snap fastener members 24 and 25 and withdraw the spear-post 26, thereby releasing the temporary shield 28; and substitute in place thereof the permanent shield I0, which is secured in place by simply passing the spearposts 26 of the male members 25 through the dress shield eyelets 2|, and snapping them into engagement with the female socket members 24, as hereinbefore described.

Should it be desired to wear the dress Without any shields whatsoever, it is merely necessary to bring the male and female fasteners 24 and 25 into snapped engagement. The metal parts are thereby withdrawn from possible contact with the wearer, for the flexible tabs 23, being positioned at the base of each member of the snap fastener, serve to cover that member from contact with the wearer.

In Figure 2 is illustrated a modified form of dress shield embodying my invention, wherein the fastening means are borne by the shield, and not by the flexible nexus; and the interlocking eyelet is formed instead, on the nexus.

Thus, in this modification of my invention, I provide a dress shield Ill having a juncture fold 29. Flexible yokes 30 having a cantilever side 3| and a free side 32, are secured to the shield ID by means of said cantilever side 3|, preferably along the marginal region 33 of the shield I0, and in proximity to its median axis and to its juncture fold l9. To the inner faces 34 and 35 of the yoke sides 3| and 32, I secure a male snap fastening member 36, and a female snap fastening member 31, respectively. The male snap fastening member 36 preferably has a spear-post 38 of sufficient height to pass the head thereof through the fabric eyelet 39 yet to be described. A flexible nexus 40, which may be a flexible tab, is provided, having formed near one end 4| thereof the eyelet 39. The other end 42 thereof, is adapted to be sewed to a dress.

In practice. the end 4| of the flexible nexus 4G is inserted within'the flexible yoke 3!! with the eyelet 39 in interlocking engagement with the spear-post 38 of the male fastening member 36. The female fastening member 31 carried by the free end 32 of the flexible yoke 30, is then brought into snapped engagement with the male fastening member 36. The dress shield is then inserted in place Within the arm scye of the dress and the ends 42 of the flexible nexus 40 are sewed to the dress. I

When it is desired to remove the dress shield, as for washing or replacement; it is but necessary to release the snap fastening members 7 36 and 31 and disengage the interlocked eyelet 39 and spear-post 38. The shield may then be removed and there is left on the dress but the flexible nexus (iii, which'easily conforms to the folds of the dress and is unnoticeable. When it is desired to return the shield to the dress, there is no fuss or bother about locating the proper be done, for the nexus rings are small and flexiplace in the arm hole for placing theshield. The shield is is merely reinserted. therein with its yokes 3d placed in juxtaposition to the eyelet ends 4! of theflexible nexus 40, and the nexus and yokes brought into releasably secured interlocking engagement, as hereinbefore described. The shield is now reassembled with, the dress, ready for wear.

It will be notedthat here, too, the metal parts are covered from contact with the body of the wearer, by the fabric covering formedby the supporting flexible fabric, in the case of this modification, the yoke.

In Figure 3 is illustrated another modified form of dress shield embodying my invention,

wherein the yoke itself is brought into interlocking engagement with the flexible nexus.--

Thus, in this modification of my invention, I provide a dress shield Hlhaving a juncture fold' Flexible yokes' 43,

l9, and a marginal region 33. having a cantilever side 44 and a free side 45, are secured by means of said cantilever side to the shield lEl, preferably along the marginal region 33 thereofand in proximity axis and to its juncture fold l9. Coactable releasable securing means, such as theinon-metal lic button 46 and the buttonhole 41 are provided on the opposed sidesof the flexible yoke 43. A a

of co-acting detaehable engaging means secured flexible nexus 48 comprising a flexible fabric annulus or ring is provided. of suflicient size to 41, thereby releasably securing the flexible nexus 48 in interlocked condition with the flexible yoke 43. The shield is then inserted in position in the arm hole of a dress and the end 49 of the flexible nexus 43, opposed to the portion thereof interlocked with the yoke 43, is then sewed to the dress.

When it is desired to remove the shield, as for washing or replacement, it is merely necessary to unbutton the releasable securing means and pass the yoke 43 out of engagement with the ring '48, and the shield is free. When it isdesired to re assemble the shield with the dress, the shield is inserted in the arm hole of the dress, with the yokes 43 in juxtaposition to the flexible nexus rings 43 and the yokes and rings are brought into releasably secured interlocking engagement, as hereinbefore described. If it is desired to wear the dress without the shield, it can very readily ble, and contact the dress at but one point, there'- by ensuring flexibility at the ever-torsioned arm scye of the dress. In Figure 4 is illustrated a further modified embodiment of my invention. In this embodiment, I provide a dress shield ll) having a junc to its median ture fold l9 and a marginal region 33. In proximity to the marginal region 33, and also to the median axis of the shield as well as'to the juncture fold 19 thereof, I provide eyelets 50 adapted to interlock with'a narrow-flexible nexus5l pass-- ing therethrough. I 1

A collar 52 is slidably mountedon the narrow, flexible nexus 5i, and isprevented from sliding off of one end 53 of the nexus, by a knob or knot 54 found onsaid end 53. The-other end 55 of the narrow, flexible nexus 5|. is adapted to be sewedto a dress l2."

' In practice, I pass the collar 52 through the I eyelet 5B, which must be flexed to receive it, un-

til it has passed to the opposite side of the dress.

mentsIi-to-be considered all respects as illus:

trative and not restrictive, reference being had to theappended claims rather than to the fore- Moreover, this interlocked condition is i bodied in other'specific forms without 'depart- I going description to indicate the scope of the invention. x I Having "thus described my invention, what I hereby claim, as new'a'nd desire'to secure by,

Letters Patent is}; c

v1. A dress shield comprising a fabric and a detachable flexible tab; an eyelet in proximity to' the periphery of said; fabric; and a plurality to said tab and .in interlocking engagement with said eyelet; a portion of-said tab, spaced from said detachable-engaging "means, being adapted to be sewed to a dress. j

2. In combination, an absorbent fabric dress shield; a dress; a flexibletab secured at one pordetachably secured to said absorbent fabric shield. v v

3. The method of assembling an abSorbentfabric dress shield witha' dress, comprising the provision of a dress; an absorbent fabric dress shield;

and a dress shield comprising a fabric and a .tion'thereof to said dress; detachable-engaging detachable flexiblenexus; an eyelet in proximity to the periphery off'said fabric; and a plurality of co-acting'detachable-engaging means secured to said nexus andjin interlocking engagement with said eyelet; positioning said last-mentioned dressshield in said dress, sewinga portion of said J nexus, spaced from said detachable-engaging means, to said dress; detaching said detachable-e engaging means and: withdrawing" said nexus from interlocking engagement with said' eyelet; withdrawingsaid dress shield fabric; inserting said absorbent fabric shield in said dress in juxtaposition to saidflexible nexus; and detach- ,ably securing said detachable-engaging means to said absorbent fabric shield.

-SADIE BENDERSKY.- 

